Happy Valley Permanent Vegetation Plots

Walker, D.A., Auerbach, N.A., Nettleton, T.K., Gallant, A., Murphy, S.M. 1997. Happy Valley Permanent Vegetation Plots: Site factors, physical and chemical soil properties, plant species cover, photographs, soil descriptions, and ordination. Arctic System Science Flux Study, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

Home // Preliminary vegetation classification // Vegetation communities and sites // Legend for environmental variables // Environmental data // Relevé size, percent cover // Soils data // Relevé species data //
Appendices: Field descriptions of soils // Plot and soil photos // Plot location map

Field Description of Soil, Plot HV-27

Plot Number:	HV-27
Location:	Toposequence 1 km north of Happy Valley camp and about 400 m west of Haul road
Description by:	A. Gallant
Sample Date:	7/24/94
Sample Time:
Classification:
Parent Material:	Hillslope colluvium
Geomorphic Surface:	Featureless
Elevation:	1000 ft
Slope:	5°
Aspect:	S
Vegetation:	Moist Aulacomnium turgidum, Betula nana, Eriophorum vaginatum, Salix planifolia, Sphagnum angustifolium, dwarf-shrub, tussock-graminoid tundra
Horizon:	Description:
Oi1	0-8 cm | Sample S-139
	Very dark brown (10 YR 2/3). 0% gravel. Top 2 cm consist of loose mat of live moss and Aulacomnium turgidum).
Oi2	8-14 cm | Sample S-140
	Dark yellow-brown (10 YR 2/4). 0% gravel. Composed mainly of fine and very fine roots. Many medium roots.
Oe	14-21 cm | Sample S-141
	Dark brown (10 YR 3/3). 0% gravel. Composed mainly of Sphagnum and Aulacomnium mosses. Many very fine and fine roots.
Oa	21-29 cm | Sample S-142
	Black (10 YR 2/1) 0% gravel. Abrupt, smooth boundary; many very fine and fine roots.
Permafrost	23 cm |
Bw	29+ cm | Sample S-143
	Gray (10 YR 5/1). Massive structure with 0% gravel. Clay loam texture. Many medium sized, yellow brown mottles (10 YR 5/8). Lenses of ice 1-2 mm thick occur within this frozen layer.